SHIRLEY TOULSONSHIRLEY TOULSON

THE POETTHE POET

A British poet Not very prolific Not known very widely known Influenced strongly by

Celtic Christianity British and Irish folklore Saints of the early church

CIRCUMSTANCE OF THE POEMCIRCUMSTANCE OF THE POEM

Originates in an old photograph Recaps an old family holiday by the beach Evokes pleasant memories A link to the past

Speaker Listener

THEMESTHEMES

Reminiscences A young happy mother Fond memories

Nostalgia Mother missed her carefree past Daughter misses her mother who is no more

CRYSTALLIZES THOUGHTS CRYSTALLIZES THOUGHTS Immortality

Art - photograph Nature – sea

Mortality Life’s events Life

Power of memory Difficulty of forgetting her mother Moving on from her past

Silence - Time – the great healer Death

POETIC TECHNIQUEPOETIC TECHNIQUE

Turns a commonplace event into a source for a metaphysical discussion on

Life a mix of joy and sorrow Memories holiday was her past, mine is her laughter Death silences every one Time a great leveler and healer

LANGUAGE LANGUAGE

Simple and unassuming, perhaps deliberately, to highlight an universal theme

The simplicity of language contrasts with the enormity of the thought expressed

THANK YOUTHANK YOU